[Cicero]

I think Bush must have made Musharref another offer he couldn't refuse: either go in and clean up the northern territories, or we will do it. Oddly enough, I think it will offend the Islamists less if Musharref does it. They'd rather be killed by a Muslim than by infidels.

He will, of course, only do the job part way. But this is still excellent news.

[fiftymegaton]

--He will, of course, only do the job part way. --

Meaning that if these wahabbist, al-qaeda sympathizers come upon Bin Laden during their excursion they will probably let him go.

[quantim]

I think Bush must have made Musharref another offer he couldn't refuse: either go in and clean up the northern territories, or we will do it.

You're exactly right, at least until it proves otherwise.  Musharraf also realizes that AQ has come close to killing him lately and he needs to take action to preserve his own life.  The additional fact that Rummy/Bush/Rice etc. have said nothing on the subject suggests to me that they have the goods on OBL.  They are not going to let him get away like Clinton did.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

IMO Pakistan is setting up a barrier to catch al-queda fleeing from the west. They have been in the process of contacting the local chieftons to warn them not to provide sanctuary. This is "the anvil". The reason the al-queda will be fleeing is because US forces will be attacking from Afghanistan. This is "the hammer". The US forces will be (quietly) permitted to enter Pakistani terroritory for this purpose. The target: OBL, his Sr. advisors, and several hundred protectors. Tic...tic...tic.